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Fishing Master World Tour Review for Nintendo Wii

Fishing Master World Tour Review for Nintendo Wii

The second entry in the Fishing Master series, World Tour, takes the most interesting bits of the original and expands upon it greatly. There is no doubt that this is a far better offering than the majority of fishing shovelware out there.

Fishing Master World Tour screenshot

However, before you run out to your local gaming retailer – giddy with the prospect of a decent Wii fishing title – know that this is less of a fishing game for sportsman gamers and more of a fish collection title for youngsters who dig an anime vibe. This is largely due to the extremely simplistic cast-and-reel control mechanic that is only slightly more engaging than what you’d find in an Animal Crossing title. That said, with over 200 species of fish, a multitude of international locales and fishing locations, leaderboard support, and a rewarding point system, Fishing Master World Tour is an enjoyable experience youngsters could fall in love with.

Starting a new game, you will have to mash the A button, wading through a series of meaningless drivel, until “Gramps” finally shuts his Muppet-like yapper. Then, you will be able to choose between a boy or girl angler and a dog or cat fishing companion. You will then be transported to a fishing boat that looks like a cruise liner, which is appointed to shuffle you around the world to the best fishing havens, as you acquire the skills and prestigious titles of the trade. However, the Captain will let you know that you’re stuck in Japan until you can find his keys. After learning the ropes and fishing the keys out of a river, you will then be able to move on to the next region of the world. Needless to say, the plotline employed by Hudson is utterly shambolic.

Thankfully, the game does not rely on its story to entertain. True to its name, the game will take you on a fishing world tour. That means players will have the chance to visit a host of environments and locales that keep the experience fresh. From casting in sheltered, saltwater bays and trolling in the open ocean, to hucking bait in freshwater lakes and rivers, players will likely enjoy the varied locations and the various fishing opportunities that abound.

Fishing Master World Tour screenshot

On that same note, there are over 200 species of fish to be caught, including rare fish that serve as mini-boss battles. I found filling up my journal with the different varieties, seeking out rare catches, and improving the size of the fish I caught to be very addictive despite the overly-simplistic control scheme (more on that later). Also, after each day of fishing, you will be rewarded with points for your haul. Points can then be used to buy new types of bait and equipment, which will give you access to the more elusive and sought after species. Submitting your point totals and record-sized fish to the leaderboards via the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection further enhances the collection and point-gathering aspects of the title.

To top it off, players will be given a series of quests to complete. These quests are mild challenges that are commensurate with your character’s skill level. The more quests you complete and points you accrue, the more titles you will garner. After all, becoming a fishing master is the name of the game.

Fishing Master World Tour screenshot

Rounding out the gameplay is a local multiplayer feature that pits up to four players in mini-tournaments. All players play at the same location, so there is no need for a split-screen feature. Players can choose between either time or point parameters, as well as the number of locations to fish. This multiplayer mode is mildly entertaining, but anyone over the age of 10 will likely play this no more than once or twice.

Fishing Master World Tour screenshot

Where Fishing Master World Tour slips up is in its overly simplistic control scheme. Players will use the Wii Remote and Nunchuk while fishing. Using a smooth, overhand motion with the Wii Remote, players will cast their bait. Every cast will result in a hook up, and the subsequent battle with the fish is made only marginally challenging by a tension meter. In order to keep the line tension in the green, you’ll have to jerk the Wii Remote left or right when prompted to do so, or start or stop reeling in with motion controls, the C or Z buttons, or the Nunchuk’s analog stick. There is nothing more complicated than that. Players never have to worry about active retrieval techniques, and there’s no fussing with rig and line set ups, no underwater camera – only a handful of live bait types (no lures or flies) to select, and the fighting is so routine and mundane, the devs might as well have made an auto-catch function. While this simplicity is ideal for very young children, slightly more mature gamers will be hard-pressed to derive any satisfaction out of the fishing mechanic.

The presentation in Fishing Master World Tour is only average. I really liked the bright color palette. The map and destinations are nicely rendered, and the fish varieties are also very detailed. However, the game does suffer from the standard Wii foibles such as aliasing issues and blocky character designs and crude animations (especially during conversation). Unfortunately, music and sound effects fare worse. The musical themes are completely generic, and the strident beeps encountered while fishing makes for an entirely mute-worthy affair.

If you are expecting a quality fishing title from Fishing Master World Tour, you are going to hate this game. However, if you, or a child you know, found Animal Crossing’s fishing mini-game addictive and engaging, know that Master Fishing World Tour is far superior and may be right up your/their alley. With tons of fish to catch, titles to garner, locations to open, and the addition of leaderboard support, I wouldn’t be surprised if this title engendered a devote following. As such, I can wholly recommend this game to a very narrow audience. For sportsmen gamers out there, we’ll just have to wait for a game that utilizes Wii Motion Plus.

RATING OUT OF 5 RATING DESCRIPTION 3.0 Graphics
Despite being plagued by common Wii problems, the bright and cheerful locales are enjoyable. Also, the fish are nicely detailed. 2.0 Control
The controls are far too simplistic for anyone but the very young to enjoy. 1.0 Music / Sound FX / Voice Acting
A truly mute-worthy aural experience. 2.6

Play Value
The fish collecting and title acquiring aspects are addictive. However, the actual fishing mechanic is crude, repetitive, and boring.

2.5 Overall Rating – Average
Not an average. See Rating legend above for a final score breakdown.

Game Features:

  • Staying true to the first version’s realistic controls, players use the Wii Remote and Nunchuk, to battle fish as you would in real life. Pull the Wii Remote left and right as the fish fights you from the end of the line and adjust your drag to avoid breaking your line.
  • Once you have your skills down, take on some friends with four person multiplayer modes.
  • Additional new features in Fishing Master World Tour include ‘Boss Battles’ where players can catch rare fish with exclusive boss battle controls.
  • A ‘Trolling’ mode has also been added to allow players to fish off the coast in places like Hawaii on the back of fishing boats. Who will be the first to hook the Big One?

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